Alteration of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 synthesis in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Eicosanoid mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in biopsied colonic specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease was compared with that from healthy controls. In contrast to surgical resection, biopsy by colonoscopy enabled patients with milder disease to be investigated. RESULTS: In subjects with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the synthesis of PGE2 was significantly (p < 0.05) increased, whereas synthesis of LTB4 remained unaltered. In addition, no differences in PGE2 and LTB4 production were found in different age groups or sex. CONCLUSION: We conclude that prostaglandin E2, compared to leukotriene B4, is the dominant eicosanoid in moderate inflammatory bowel disease.